Obama re-elected as president

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Barack Obama has won a second term as US President after securing victories in key swing states, including Ohio.

He said in his victory speech that he would speak to his defeated Republican challenger Mitt Romney about “where we can work together to move this country forward”.

"We have picked ourselves up, we have fought our way back and we know in our hearts that for the United States of America the best is yet to come," Obama said.

Romney was gracious in defeat as he called upon politicians and the American people to come together to work out the country’s problems.

"The nation as you know is at a critical point. At a time like this we can't risk partisan bickering and political posturing. The leaders have to reach across the aisle to do the people's work. And we citizens have to rise to the occasion,” he said.

Christians in the UK took to Twitter and Facebook to weigh in on the outcome.

Telegraph blogger Damian Thompson ‏(@holysmoke) tweeted: “Is the Tea Party over? Radical social conservatism might have brought it to an end.”

Vicar and former Communards member the Reverend Richard Coles (@RevRichardColes) tweeted: “Interesting that in Twitter discussions Romney's Mormonism is seen as more significant than Obama's Christianity.

“Obama, to a Christian like me, looks very Christian indeed. I don't think it is incidental to his thing.”

Kerron Cross, director of communications for the Archbishop of York (@KerronCross) tweeted: “Thank you Ohio. Thank you America.”

Vicky Beeching was greeted by angry comments from some fans after admitting on Twitter and Facebook that she had wanted Obama to win.

“Awake early to catch up on the news about the USA election. Relieved to hear that Obama won!” she posted.

While dozens of people liked her comment, others were not so pleased.

One Facebook follower commented, “Very disappointed … wow … You just lost a fan”, while another commented, “This is a sad day for America, Vicky! How can you say that? Obama has been the most anti-biblical, anti Christian President of all time. So grieved for our nation and all our dear friends who cannot find work. Speechless...”

However, other fans rushed to her defence, with one saying: “Really, people choose who they 'like' based on political preferences? I can't imagine deciding to stop being a fan of someone just because they voted differently to me!”

Sr CatherineWybourne aka Digital Nun (@Digitalnun) offered some advice in a blog post to the new president based on the guidelines given to the cellarer, or overseer, of the monastery.

The post read: "The personal qualities Benedict looks for are, first of all, wisdom and maturity, but what comes next is unexpected.

"Someone entrusted with care of the monastery’s goods and property must be disciplined — not personally greedy or exploitative, not inclined to make trouble, not vain, not lazy, not a waster.

"His role is to be a nurturer of the community entrusted to him.

"Those are surely points President Obama might think about as he enters upon his second term when the temptations of power must be greater than ever."

The post ended with a call to Christians here as well as in the US to pray for the president.

"We in Britain must also pray because decisions taken in the USA affect the rest of the world," she said.